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Heavy rains and strong storms following Typhoon Dolphin have battered eastern China, causing widespread flooding and disruption, particularly in Shanghai, the nation’s second-largest city.
Dolphin made landfall Sunday evening in Zhejiang province, located just south and west of Shanghai, with maximum sustained winds exceeding 90 mph. The storm then weakened to a tropical storm but continued to drench eastern provinces including Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shandong into Monday.
In Shanghai’s suburban Jiading and Qingpu districts, many streets remained submerged in knee-deep water Monday morning, according to live streams shared by residents on social media. The flooding has severely impacted daily life in the city.
Shanghai’s two major airports canceled a combined total of 943 flights, reducing their capacity by nearly 40% on Monday, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Meanwhile, in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, a truck was overturned by powerful winds and heavy rain, as seen in a video posted on social media; the driver’s condition remains unknown.
Typhoon Dolphin is the strongest storm to hit China this year and is expected to move further inland toward central provinces such as Hubei and Henan over the next few days, carrying heavy moisture northward. Authorities in Beijing have issued torrential rain warnings and are prepared to activate flood control measures starting Tuesday morning.
Having traveled over 3,700 miles before landfall-three times longer than a typical typhoon-Dolphin brought an enormous cloud system that engulfed much of eastern China. Its impact is being compared to last year’s Typhoon Doksuri, which caused significant damage across southeastern Fujian province and set rainfall records in Beijing.
As the storm’s moisture meets colder northern air, regions including Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei should expect continued rainfall through Thursday, according to CCTV. Residents in these areas are advised to stay alert for potential flooding and adverse weather conditions.